On Sept. 25, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of the Diocese of Paterson urged all participating pro-life advocates before the start of the second annual N.J. Rally and March for Life in Trenton to lead with love when witnessing to the dignity of every human life — not judgement.
Before the N.J. Rally for Life began, Bishop Sweeney served as the homilist that morning during the second annual N.J. Mass for Life in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral in Trenton, the New Jersey State capital. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., of the Trenton Diocese, celebrated the Mass.
The hundreds of worshippers who packed the cathedral included other bishops, priests, religious, and laity from throughout the Garden State. Among them were a significant number from the Paterson Diocese who accompanied Bishop Sweeney that day.
In his homily, Bishop Sweeney told pro-life advocates not to judge women contemplating an abortion. He said he learned that lesson while participating in a sidewalk abortion clinic ministry in high school in the 1980s in Queens, N.Y., led by Msgr. Philip Reilly.
“Msgr. Reilly said, ‘Don’t condemn the mom who walks into the clinic. Only God knows what’s going on in her heart. She may feel like she has no other choice. But as you see that mom, love her and her child. Your prayer and your love may be the only love that that child experiences in their life on this earth,'” Bishop Sweeney said.
Also in this time of heightened political rhetoric and violence, Bishop Sweeney urged pro-life advocates to “be here for Jesus and for our sisters and brothers, especially those who disagree with us.”
“We can teach by our example that we can disagree with one another and still love one another. God sent his son, who comes to us body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist. He calls us to love one another as he loves us. That’s who we have to be if we’re going to speak on behalf of life and pray that the laws of our country change.”
For the Mass for Life, livestreamed in both English and Spanish, Bishop O’Connell was joined by his brother New Jersey bishops. They included Bishop Sweeney, Bishop Joseph A. Williams of the Camden Diocese, and Newark Auxiliary Bishops — Bishop Michael A. Saporito, Regional Bishop for Bergen County; Bishop Manuel A. Cruz, Regional Bishop for Essex County; and Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B., Regional Bishop for Union County.
“Let us offer to the Lord our heartfelt prayers that our country may turn to the Lord, that we might support the cause for life from conception until natural death,“ Bishop O’Connell said to the standing room only congregation. Hundreds more viewed the livestream from the Cathedral parish hall or on technical devices.
Also concelebrating the Mass were about 40 priests from the various dioceses. Representatives from the five New Jersey dioceses participated in the Mass, including as readers, altar servers, and gift bearers.
Following the Mass, many of the congregants took part in the N.J. Rally and March for Life held on the grounds of the State House annex, where they offered a peaceful witness to the sanctity of unborn life.
The Mass was organized by New Jersey’s five Roman Catholic dioceses. The rally and march were organized by March for Life, a national organization that promotes the beauty and dignity of every human life by working to end abortion – uniting, educating, and mobilizing pro-life people in the public square.
In his homily for the Mass for Life, Bishop Sweeney told pro-life advocates before the rally and march, “I’m so excited to be walking this journey together.“
“We have much work to do here in our state of New Jersey. As pilgrims of hope, let us continue to build a culture of life,“ Bishop Sweeney said.
This article was originally published on Trenton Monitor. Additional reporting by Michael Wojcik.
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